City internship program to benefit Wounded Warriors

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — A new internship program will help the City of Jacksonville train potential employees while offering wounded Marines a chance to receive civilian job experience.

According to city staff, the program doesn’t require city funding since the applicants are from Wounded Warrior Battalion, which does not permit the Marines to be paid in addition to their military salary while interning.

Thomas Sherwood, human resources generalist for the city, said that the program is “ideal” since the city does not have funding available for an internship program. Sherwood said that the program will provide the wounded warriors who apply and are accepted three to eight months experience.

“This is a transition program that will help them transition to the civilian sector,” City Manager Richard Woodruff told city council members during a Tuesday workshop.

According to Wounded Warrior Battalion officials, internships such as those being offered by the city are a valuable part of the transition process.

One Marine is scheduled to intern with the transportation department, said Craig Stephens, command advisor for Wounded Warrior Battalion, and another is interested in interning with the fire department.

“Obviously it gives them on-the-job training for whatever they are interested in ... and a lot of times leads to employment afterwards,” he said. “...Our intent is to find these Marines jobs with purpose ... some opportunity where they could spend the rest of their life doing what they’re interested in.”

The city hopes to have five interns in 2014, according to Sherwood.

Transition Coordinator Kasi Theakston said the battalion is also looking for more intern opportunities in fields that Marines are interested in, including welding.